Durrr in process of losing 60k+ in a chess bet.. good month for raptor

[ig06]

[ QUOTE ]
this is why chess is a terrible game to handicap -- a single pawn advantage would be enough to make any competitive player a favorite against the top gm's in the world.

[/ QUOTE ]

There was a charity match a few years ago when Terence Chapman, a former England junior international/British U-14 Champion and FIDE rating a bit less than 2200, played Kasparov at 2 pawn odds. The two pawns were never centre pawns as Kasparov was of the opinion that this would be too big a handicap. I remember at the time there was a surprisingly wide range of opinions even amongst strong players as to what odds players of various strengths could give to Kasparov. At any rate, Kasparov narrowly won the match.
I can't even count the number of games where, as a mere FM I have won from what seemed like hopeless positions against decent players (and tbh vice-versa!).

[ChrisV]

I can't be bothered downloading a chess program to play through the moves, but I followed the first ten or so moves of game 1 in my head and durrr sucks pretty bad. I'm a decent chess player, by no means a strong player, but curtains would have little chance against me down a rook. A knight would probably be about level. Being a rook up is hugely strong as it's so easy to trade down into a position where the rook is a powerhouse and totally decisive.

[xxThe_Lebowskixx]

having him down a rook is much more valuable than a knight. you would have to be a very very strong player to beat a GM down only a knight.

[xxThe_Lebowskixx]

you guys are under estimating the different ways a GM could play to prevent you from simply trading pieces, specifically not using an opening you are familiar with like


e4 e5
nf3 nc6
bc4 nf6

[Cresspahl]

Just for the records: Did curtains/Shahade and Durr play their match on a chess server or real-life over the board?

[xxThe_Lebowskixx]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Is durrrr actually any good at chess, or does he just like betting on stuff?

[/ QUOTE ]

hes not a lot better than me, and i consider myself terrible.

[/ QUOTE ]

you really have to be quite bad at chess to ever lose with a rook advantage against anyone. just play defensively and force a bunch of trades -- they don't all even have to be even -- and you'll be unstoppable in the endgame. this is why chess is a terrible game to handicap -- a single pawn advantage would be enough to make any competitive player a favorite against the top gm's in the world.

[/ QUOTE ]

its really not as easy as you think.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm not sure how I would do but I know what I would try.

Right off the hop I'd take every power piece i could that forced him to use his turn to take my piece back. You'd really want to trade queens.

Once you get the superior player down to say his bishop and rook vs your bishop and two rooks (if his mom is cool with it) you're in good shape.

[/ QUOTE ]

you will make a mistake somewhere along the way. look at it like this: the rooks dont even come into play in a chess game until X number of moves, by that point you are already going to have given up atleast half the value of the rook. now you need to finish without losing - nah, its going to be very hard.

[Chump Change]

[ QUOTE ]
you guys are under estimating the different ways a GM could play to prevent you from simply trading pieces, specifically not using an opening you are familiar with like


e4 e5
nf3 nc6
bc4 nf6

[/ QUOTE ]

Anybody that doesn't know that opening can't call themselves a competent player. Which side does the GM have in that sequence?


You do make a good point though KKF, one I alluded to earlier, in that the GM would have a harder time compromising the weaker player without a knight as oppopsed to without a rook.

[ReptileHouse]

holy crap this is awesome.... playing through the games now. so sweet! :P

[Sciolist]

[ QUOTE ]
Just for the records: Did curtains/Shahade and Durr play their match on a chess server or real-life over the board?

[/ QUOTE ]
Real life

[bones]

[ QUOTE ]
howd he pay? cashiers check?

[/ QUOTE ]

lol...